Ritchie Sponsored Bill Providing Parish Access to Municipal Water Passes State Senate

A bill sponsored by Senator Ritchie to help provide the Oswego County Town and Village of Parish access to municipal water unanimously passed the State Senate Wednesday.

The Town of Parish—and the village—currently does not have the ability to provide municipal water to any of its residents, who have been using wells for water.  However, due to the number of wells that tested positive for lead and arsenic, or that dry up in the summer, the town wanted to step in. The town recently constructed a new water district, No. 1, which covers a portion of the town and the entire village, in hopes the Onondaga County Water Authority could take over and begin the process of providing water to the district.

However, before the authority can begin the process of delivering the water, the town needs New York State to approve the Onondaga County Water Authority as the town’s provider. This bill gives that authorization and allows the authority to begin efforts to provide municipal water to the town, beginning with the approximately 400 homes in Water District No. 1.

“It can be so difficult for rural communities to access to the most basic of needs, such as fresh, clean water,” Senator Ritchie said. “This bill will allow the Town and Village of Parish to not only ensure its residents can begin the process of accessing municipal water, but it also allows fire departments to have the ability to use hydrants to fight fires—lowering homeowner insurance for Parish’s hardworking taxpayers.”

Water district No. 1 is the first of what the town hopes will be several districts to cover the entire town and eventually, get municipal water to every single resident.

The bill now moves on to the New York State Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblyman Will Barclay.